Trenton man remains in critical condition after being shot in a park

TRENTON –A city man remains in critical condition after he was wounded in the chest by a shotgun blast in North Trenton Monday night, police said.

The 19-year-old was sitting at the far end of Martin Luther King Park on Southard Street with his cousin and one other man around 9:45 p.m. As they talked, four or five shots rang out, according to police.

“Next thing the victim grabs his arm and tells his cousin he’s hit,” said Detective Pete Szpakowski, a police spokesman.

With his cousin’s chest bleeding from a likely birdshot wound, the cousin flagged down a passing car, which rushed him and the victim to Capital Health Regional Medical Center.
Doctors immediately sent the victim into emergency surgery.

Police initially believed the West Ward resident would not pull through due to the extent of his injuries, but as of this morning he remained alive but in critical condition.

Detectives are investigating the shotgun assault, but the victim’s cousin claims he did not know where the shots came from, nor did he get a good look at the shooter.

Anyone with information can call police at (609) 989-4170, or the Confidential Tip Line at (609) 989-3663.